Cotton-cleaning machine.



W. D.- NASH. COTTON CLEANING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1912.

Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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COTTON CLEANING MACHINEI APPLICATION .FILED NOV. 9, 1912.

1,058,997. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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W. D. NASH.

COTTON CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9, 1912.

1,058,997. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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COTTON CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLIGATIQNPILBDNOVQ,1912.

1,058,997. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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COTTON CLEANING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 9, 1912.

1,058,997. Patented Apr. 15, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

wALTER D. NASH, OE ATLANTA, GEORGIA,- AssIGNoR'To ATLANTA UTILITY WORKS,

' OE EAST POINT, GEORGIA, A CORPORATION OE GEORGIA.

COTTON-CLEANING MACHINE.

Speccation of Letters Patent,

Application led November 9, 1912. Serial No. 730,453.

PatentedApr;15,1913.

State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Cleaning Machines, of which the following 1s a specification.

The invention relates to that class of machines which are bemployed in freeing cotton waste and other low grade fibrous Inaterials from dirt and other foreign matter, thereby conditioning such materials so that they can be utilized in textile manufacture.

It consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, in whichsimilar reference characters designate .corresponding parts, Figure. 1 isa side elevation, brolIen away in part, of a cottoncleaning machine embodying the invention. F1g.'2 1s a crosssection on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3,15 a crosssection on'the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Figs. 4-7 are det-ail views showing several of the frames of the housing. Fig. 8 is an.

4tershaft is journaled. Fig. 13 is an end view of one of the end sections of .the drum. Fig. 14 is a longitudinal sectional view o f the same. Fig. 15 is an end View of the intermediate section of the' drum. Fig. 16 isa longitudinal sectional view ofthe same. Flg. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view of the Fig. 18 1s an end view of the same. Ffgs. 19-20 are detail views of one of the beater pins.

The housing of the machine comprises the end frames 1, 2 and the intermediate frame 3. Extending along the tops of these frames, yat their corners, are the `channel bars 4, one on eachside (Figs. 4 to 8). Atv

each upper corner of each end frame is a projection 5 to t in the recess in the end of the channel bar, where the project-ion and bar are secured together by the bolts 6 Fig. 7). On eac-h upper outer corner of the intermediate frames is the projection 7 to Ilit the recess in the underside of the channel channel bars 4; the transverse edge of the' plate at! one end is secured to the semi-circular flange 13 (Fig. 6) onthe inner face yof the end frame 1,and the transverse edge at the other end of the foraminous plate is secured to the semi-circular flange 14 of the intermediate frame 3 (Fig. 5). The intermediate frame 3 is cut away above the flange 14. The hood 9 and the foraminous plate 12 form a cylindrical casing or chamber ex- :tending between the frames 1 and 3, said -chamber being closed at one end by the plate 11 and the frame 1, and open 'at the other .end into the space or chamber between the 4end frame 2 and the intermediate frame 3. Extending along the upper edges of the frames 1, 2 and 3 are the side plates 15. The upper edge of each side plate'is fastened to the inner face of the outer flange of the adjacent channel bar by the bolts 16. (Figs. 2, 3, 8). The lower edge of each side plate is reinforced by the longitudinal .batten 17'. Projecting downwardly and inwardly from the lower edges of the side plates 15 are the inclined sides 18 reinforced by the longitudinal bat-tens 19 and fthe cross battens 20. These 'inclined sides only extend between the frames 1 and 3, and vthe spaces between their ends are closed by such frames to form a lower chamber beneath the foraminous plate 12. One of the inclined sides 18 is hinged, as'at 21, to form a 'door vthat can be swung inwardly to give access to the lower chamber. The inclined sides 18 form guides to the trough 22 mounted at its ends in the frames 1 and 3.

Extending longitudinally through the cy-I lindrical cleaning chamber, formed by the hood 9 and`l the foraminousplate 12, is the shaft 23. This shaft is journaled at one end in the bearing blocks 24 carried by the'shelf 25 (Fig. v6) projecting from the outer face of tlie'frame 1. On this end of the shaft are the fast and loose pulleys 26 to engage the drivingbelt bywhich power is imparted to the machine. The other end of the shaft is journaled in the bearing blocks 27 mounted on the shelf 28 (Fig. 4) projecting from the outer face of the frame 2.

On the shaft v23 within the cylindrical .cleaning chamber is mounted the drum comprisingthe end and intermediate sections 29, 30, 31. These sections are hollow cylindrical castings of equal diameter so assembled and secured on the shaft 23 as to form a closed drum with a smooth continuous periphery. The outer end of the section 29- (Fig. 13, 14) is closed by the head 291, and inside ofthe head are the arms 32 radiating from the hub 33. The wall of the section,

f the head, arms and hub are all integral.

Each arm is web-shaped and extends a considerable distance into the section to give the required strength The-` section is splined on the shaft by a key 34 inserted in coincident ways in the hub and shaft. The section is firmly held in place on'the shaft by the set-screw 35 passing through the hub 33 and impinging on the key 34. The section 29 is adjusted on t-he shaft 23 soas to. leave but little space between its outer end and the end frame 1 and end plate 11 of the housin Fitting in this space between the end o the section 29 and plate 11 is the shallow spiral 36 on the head 291 of the seetion. The spiral of this conveyer leads from the hub of the section outward to its periphery. The conveyer operates to carry outwardly any material that may drop into the space between the head of the drum and `frame 1 and the plate 11. This will prevent packing of the material around the shaft in such space. 4Vithout this spiral conveyer some of the material being treated would tend to collect and pack around the shaft at that point, and through the heat generated by friction during the operation of'the 1na. chine Amight become ignited. The intermediate drum vsection 30 (Figs. 15 1G) is carried by the arm 37 radiating from the hub 38 splined on the shai't 23, and 1s secured on the shaft by the set-screw 39 passing through the hub and vimpinging on the key forming the spline. The wall of this section, the arms and hub are integral. The ends of this section are flanged and grooved, as at 40, to engage the similarly vshaped ends of the other sections 29, 31. This engagement of the ends of the sections holds them firmly together in the proper relative positions, and gives a smooth continuous surface to the periphery of the drum. )Vhile only one intermediate section is shown, yet it is obvious that several may be used, depending upon the length of the drum. The outer end of the other end drum section 31 (Figs. 17, 18) is closedby the head 311 and the section is carried by the arms 41 radiating from the hub 42 splined on the shaft 23. It is secured on the shaft by the set-screw 43 passing through the hub and impinging on the key forming the spline. The arms 41 are Webshaped and extend a consid'erable'distance into the section to vive the required strength. Itis to be observed that the hub 42 projects beyond the outer end of the section and through this projection the set-screw 43 extends. The `wall of this section, the head, arms and hub are also integral.

In assembling the sections on the shaft 23 in setting up the drum, the front-end section 29 is first placed on theshaft and adjusted. To turn down the set-screw 35, accessto the same can be had through the rear open end of the section. Next, the intermediate section 30 is placed on the shaft with its flanged and grooved front edge registering with the grooved and flanged rear edge of the section 29. Access to the screw 39 to set the same can be had through the rear open end of the section 30. Finally, the rear end section 31 is placed on the shaft with its grooved and flanged frontedge registering with oppositely flanged and grooved edge of the intermediate section'. As the set-screw 43 passes through the projection of the hub 42 eX- tending outside of the drum, access can be .readily had to the set-screw to set the same. A drum so constructed will be closed at all points so that dust and dirt cannot enter the same. An accumulation of extraneous matter within the drum would destroy its balance and, as a result, more driving power would be required to rotate the same.

Spirally arranged on the surface of the drum are the beater pins 44 (Figs. 1, 19, 20). Each of these ins comprises a threaded shank to pass through the wall of the drum to receive a nut on the inside of the drum, and a rectangular head to project above the surface of the drum. The heads of the pins project into the annular space between the drum and the cylindrical casing formed by the hood 9 and the foraminous plate 12. The face of each pin-head is inclined to follow the general spiral direction'of the pins, 'and when the drum is rotated the pins not only serve to beat the material but also act to convey the material from the feeding-in end of cylindrical casing to the discharge end.

On the front or feeding-in end of the hood 9 is the hopper 45, through which the material to be treated is fed into the machine.

At the rear end of the machine, in the ,chamber 46 between the frames 2 and 3, is the discharge apron 47 beneath the discharge end of the drum. This apron is carried at its opposite ends by the rolls 48, 49 journal'ed between the frames 2, 3. The bearings 50 (Fig. 2) of the roll 49 are adnoemer..

I justable-throughthm set-screws 51 so that the' tension of the :apronf may' be. regulated.- The apron-is drivenf by the pulley 521onI the shaft oaf the roll/48.A The up er`- fold of the apron travelsalongthe le ges-53 pro.`

jecting: from the frames 2 and'3 (Figs. 4 and 5), which prevent the apron from 'saggihg.

Extend-ing' along the bottonfrof` t etrough 22 (Fig. 2') `is the curved plate 54 semi-circular in cross-section.v In this trough, cooperating with the\ platel 54' is -the screwconveyer 55 on theshaftl driven by the ,pulley 57. At one end this shaft is jour naled i-n the bearing. 58V (Fig. 1) in- .the

frame 3, and at the other end it is journaledJ in the Sleeve 59 (Fig. 9) carried by the yoke J60 and bracket 61. The bracket rests on and against the sides of the trough 22. By means of'this construction the end of'the shaft is properly supported Lin thtl end of the trough, and at the same timev the sup port oiiers no obstruction to the passage of material moved by the screw conveyer to be discharged at the end of the trough.

On the rear end of the driving shaft 23 is the pulley 62 (Figs. 13), whichis connected by thev belt 63 with the pulley 64 on the counter-shaft 65. This counter-shaft is journaled in the hanger 66 pivoted on the end frame 2 (Figs. 10-12). The pivotal point of the hanger, as at 67, is eccentric to the bearings of the counter-shaft 65, so that by turning the hanger the tension of the belt 63v can be regulated. The hanger is slots 69 in the end frame 2 (F ig3), which' slots are curved concentric with the pivot 67 of the hanger. On the counter-shaft 65 is another pulley 70, from which leads the belt 71 over the pulley 52 and around the pulley 57. By adjusting the hanger, 66 the tension of the belt 71 can be re ulated also. Power is transmittedfrom the rivingshait 23through the pulley 62, belt 63 andpulley 64 to the copnter-shaft 65. From the pulley 70 o-n the counter-shaft power is transmitted by the belt 71 to the pulley 52 tif drive the apron 47, and to the pulley 57 to drive the screw conveyer 55.

The machine having been put in mot-ion, its operation is as follows: The waste cotton is fed into the hopperl 45, from which it through the foraminous plate into the chambei; beneath, from which chamber it isguided bythe inclined sides 18 into the trough 22. The screw conveyer in the trough carries the -iextraneous matter-to the 'fron-t of-the machine, ,where itis discharged. The material is conveyed through the cylindrical chamberl material are broken up and the ibers are separated and straightened out so that the material leaves the machine in a light iluifymass suitable' for furthertextile purposes.

Having thus described my invention, what Ir'claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cotton cleaning machine, a horizontally disposed cylindrical casing com-q `/prising an imperforate hood and a foraminous bottom, ssaid casing being closed at the feed end and open at the discharge end, a

drum rotatable in the cylindrical casing'having a closed head adiacent to the closed end v of the casing, a shallow spiral conveyer on the head of the drum between such head and the adjacent closed endof the-casing, and a'hopper communicating with the feed end of the casing above the spiral conveyer.

2. In a cotton cleaning machine, a housing comprising endframes and an intermediate frame, a hood'semi-circular in crosssectio-n extending over-the upper ends v4of said frames, a fog'aminos plate semi-circular in crossfsection constituting with the hood a cylindrical casing extending between one of the en frames and the intermediate frame and with the foraminous plate forming the bottom of the cylindrical casing, said casing being closed at one end by the end frame and' opening at the other end into the space between the intermediate and the otherl end frame, a drum rotatable in said cylindrical casing, beater pins spirally arranged on the periphery of the drum, a conveyer at the open end of the casing in the space between the intermediate frame and the opposite end frame. a receptacle' fixed in the housing beneath the :Eoraminous bottom, and a conveyer in said receptacle.

3. In a cotton cleaning machine, a housing. a cylindrical chamber with a oraminous bottom fixed in said housing, a Idrum rotatable in said chamber, beater pins on the peripheryf'of said drum, a frame closing an rend of the chamber adjacent to an end of the drum, and a spiral conveyer in the space between said frame and the adjacent end of the drum. j

4. In a cottoncleauing machine, a rotatable drum, a frame adjacent to the end of the drum, and a shallow spiral rib on the end of the drum forming. a conveyer between the drum and the adjacent frame.

5. In a cotton cleaning machine, a housing frames, a foraminous plate semileircular in cross-sectionconstituting with the hood a l cylindrical casing eXtendi-ngbet-Ween one of said casing being closed at one end b the end frames andthe intermediate frame,

the end frame and opening at the other en into the space betweenthe intermediate frame and the other end frame, a drum rotatable `in said casing', beater pins spirally'arranged on theperiphery of the drum,va eonveyer at the open end of the easing in the space between the intermediate frame and the end frame, inclined sides fixed in the housing below said casing to form a lower chamber beneath the foraminous plate, a trough on the bottom of said lower chamber, and :L conveyer in said trough.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER D. NASH. Witnesses t JAS. W. AUSTIN, W. L. M. AUSTIN. 

